“Mono No Aware” and “Limlim” Take Top Honors at 2026 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival Awards Night

The dust has settled and the victors stand triumphant.

At the end of the most competitive Puregold CinePanalo awards season yet, “Mono No Aware” and “Limlim” emerged as the biggest winners, taking home the top prizes in their respective categories.

In the full-length category, the Japan-set drama “Mono No Aware” was the night’s most awarded film, landing nine awards, including Pinakapanalong Pelikula, Panalo sa International Jury, Panalong Direktor for BC Amparado, Panalong Aktor for Juan Karlos Labajo, Panalong Pangalawang Aktres for Momoko Kobayashi, Best Ensemble, Panalo sa Cinematography for TM Malones, Panalo sa Editing for Edmund Telmo, and Panalo sa Sound Design for Willie Apa Jr.

Meanwhile, “Apol of my Ai,” “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo),” and “Patay Gutom” each took home four awards, while “Stuck on You” won two.

Among the notable individual winners were Xyriel Manabat, who won Panalong Aktres for her comedic performance in “Stuck on You”; young Zion Cruz of “Apol of my Ai,” who received the Panalong Child Performer award; and Zanjoe Marudo, who won Panalong Pangalawang Aktor.

In the student shorts category, “Limlim” and “Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.” had a closely fought night, highlighted by a tie for Panalong Direktor between Samantha Palaje for “Limlim” and Jomarie Corro-Reyes for “Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.”

Both films ended the night with four awards each, with “Limlim” taking home the top honor of Pinakapanalong Maikling Pelikula.

Complete List of 2026 Puregold CinePanalo Award Winners

PINAKAPANALONG PELIKULA

Full-Length: “Mono No Aware”
Student Shorts: “Limlim”

PANALONG KARANGALAN MULA SA HURADO

Full-Length: “Apol of my Ai”
Student Shorts: “Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.”

PUREGOLD ALWAYS PANALO FILM

Full-Length: “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo)” & “Patay Gutom (Dead Hungry)”
Student Shorts: “Miss Intrams” & “Pulis Dunggab”

PANALO SA INTERNATIONAL JURY

Full-Length: “Mono No Aware”
Student Shorts: “Alumahan”

PANALONG DIRECTOR

Full-Length: BC Amparado — “Mono No Aware”
Student Shorts: Jomarie Corro-Reyes — “Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.”
Samantha Palaje — “Limlim”

PANALONG AKTRESS

Full-Length: Xyriel Manabat — “Stuck on You”
Student Shorts: Jonalyn Mateo — “Ang Huling Banlaw ni Susan”

PANALONG CHILD PERFORMER

Full-Length: Zion Cruz — “Apol of My Ai”
Student Shorts: Zoey Madison Lim — “Limlim”

PANALONG AKTOR

Full-Length: Juan Karlos Labajo — “Mono No Aware”
Student Shorts: Jay Gabriel Cañada — “The Sound of K”

PANALONG PANGALAWANG AKTRESS

Full-Length: Momoko Kobayashi — “Mono No Aware”
Student Shorts: Nour Hooshmand — “Starfish”

PANALONG PANGALAWANG AKTOR

Full-Length: Zanjoe Marudo — “Apol of My Ai”
Student Shorts: Nor Domingo — “12 Shots”

BEST ENSEMBLE

Full-Length: “Mono No Aware”

PANALO SA MGA MANONOOD

Full-Length: “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo)”
Student Shorts: “Ang Huling Banlaw ni Susan”

PANALONG KWENTO

Full-Length: Carl Joseph E. Papa, Yvonne Garcia — “Patay Gutom”
Student Shorts: Jomarie Corro-Reyes, William Roberts — “Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.”

PANALO SA CINEMATOGRAPHY

Full-Length: TM Malones — “Mono No Aware”
Student Shorts: Geia de Vera — “Limlim”

PANALO SA PRODUCTION DESIGN

Full-Length: Rodrigo Ricio — “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo)”
Student Shorts: Jim Flores, Minnesota Flores, Sol Samodio — “12 Shots”

PANALO SA MUSICAL SCORING

Full-Length: Emerzon Texon — “Apol of My Ai”
Student Shorts: Lenard Kent Villanueva — “Miss Intrams”

PANALO SA VISUAL EFFECTS

Full-Length: “Patay Gutom” Animation Team
Student Shorts: Junelle Bacho Tecson, Luis Martin Mañalac — “Starfish”

PANALO SA EDITING

Full-Length: Edmund Telmo — “Mono No Aware”
Student Shorts: Brian Spencer Reyes — “Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.”

PANALO SA SOUND DESIGN

Full-Length: Willie Apa Jr. — “Mono No Aware”
Student Shorts: Hannah Gagalac — “Bumtak Sara ti Nuangen”

PANALONG AWITIN

Full-Length: “Reyna ng Quezon City” by Juana — “Stuck on You”
Student Shorts: “Game Na!” by Kier Mosquito, Edlyn Icao, John Dave Brion — “Teks Battle: Shoot Pati Pato!”

PANALONG POSTER

Full-Length: Denver Balbaboco — “Patay Gutom”
Student Shorts: Keith Ian Serfino — “Alumahan” & Eidan Maninang — “Nang Matakasan ang Tagay”

PINAKAPANALONG PROMOSYON NG PELIKULA

“When Heaven Inched Towards Earth”

PANALO SA BRAND INTRUSION

Full-Length: “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo)”
Student Shorts: “Alumahan”

‘A New Voice and New Perspective’

Puregold CinePanalo festival chair Ivy Hayagan-Piedad highlighted the importance of recognizing Filipino filmmakers and their contributions to Philippine cinema.

“Each year, we gather to honor the brave artistry, and passion of Filipino filmmakers who continue to make a statement in Philippine cinema,” she said.

“We proudly celebrate their achievements and we will continue to push this new voice and new perspective that move, inspire, and resonate with our Panalo cinema audience.”

Catch the Films Until October 4

The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026 continues until October 4 at:

• Gateway Cineplex 18
• TriNoma
• Fairview Terraces
• Ayala Malls Feliz
• Ayala Malls Circuit
• Ayala Malls Manila Bay
• Market! Market!

Regular tickets are priced at ₱250, while PWDs, senior citizens, students, national athletes, and Aling Puring and Puregold Perks cardholders can avail of the discounted ₱200 ticket price.

A ₱2,000 festival pass also provides access to all seven full-length films and four sets featuring the festival’s 19 student shorts. Festival passes are available at Gateway Cineplex 18 and TriNoma.

The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026 is supported by Alaska, Angel, Argentina, Ariel, Bingo, Birch Tree Fortified, Bear Brand, C2, Century Tuna, Champion, Chuckie, Coca-Cola, Colgate, Creamsilk, Datu Puti, Downy, GoodNom Fresh, Great Taste, Del Monte, Jack’N Jill, Knorr, Lucky Me!, Maggi, Magnolia Real Mayonnaise, Milo, Monde, MY San, Nestea, Nissin, Nivea, Palmolive Naturals, Pantene, Purefoods, Rebisco, Royal, Safeguard, Sprite, Surf, Wilkins, and Zonrox.